Most cattle counts match last month, down from last year

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 620,000 head on March 1, 2023, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from February and unchanged from March 1, 2022. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 535,000 head on feed, unchanged from last month but down 9% from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,155,000 head, unchanged from last month but down 5% from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during February 2023 totaled 105,000 head, unchanged from January but down 9% from February 2022. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 50,000 head, down 14% from January and down 30% from February 2022. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 155,000 head, down 5% from January and down 17% from February 2022.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during February 2023 totaled 103,000 head, unchanged from January and unchanged from February 2022. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 47,000 head, down 6% from January and down 24% from February 2022. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 150,000 head, down 2% from January and down 9% from February 2022. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 5,000 head.

Nationally, cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on March 1, 2023. The inventory was 4% below March 1, 2022.

Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.73 million head, 7% below 2022. Net placements were 1.68 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 345,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 424,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 50,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.74 million head, 5% below 2022. Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during February, 2% below 2022.